Wow. 6 months and my last Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries entry. On one hand, the time has flown by. On the other hand, my time as a Sling Diariest marks my time here in the Boston area: Pittsburgh feels so far away.
With my last entry, I’ve been given the task of writing about community. It feels so perfectly fitting.
It causes me to ache with the pain of missing my community back in Pittsburgh, only to wipe away the tears to reveal an incredible community here in our new village.
Neither better or worse, but each are beautiful in their own way.
I’ve moved a few times in my life, but many were when I was too young to remember. I did the back and forth from college for four years, moved to Pittsburgh after graduating, and hopped around a bit with apartments and our home there.
The packing of boxes.
The unpacking of them.
The purging. The cleaning.
All of those things are hard and fun and time consuming and real.
It’s the leaving though.
I’ve talked about it before, but the village we had was something special. The tribe of moms and dads and neighbors and friends became stronger with every life event. I understood the village needed to raise the children, and I saw its beauty firsthand.
Leaving our community. Leaving our village. It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.
With the pain of leaving, brought a door open to a new community. A different community. At first I didn’t want to open myself up — I wanted to pretend like we were embarking on a long vacation, only to return “home” after a short while.
But the problem with vacations is that they are temporary: it would be difficult for a tree to take root and really get grounded if it was only going to be there temporarily.
So I’m learning to take root.
I’m learning to let myself be loved by people. I’m learning to say yes when people offer to help. I’m striving to live like we’ll be here a long while, even though I have no idea how “while” our time here will be.
I’ve already learned so much during our short time here. I’m bringing aspects of my village with me, and seeing the beauty of this new village building. This community is beautiful, quirky, loving, and patient.
As much as I dread the sadness of someday leaving here–leaving this community–I can’t let the potential sadness keep me from being present and here. I want to need this community. I want this community to need me. I want my kids to see us loving our city and its people well.
Thank you, Sakura Bloom for this opportunity to be a Sling Diarist. I am honored to part of this community as well. There are some days I wish the internet would go away, but for the people it has brought into my life, I will forever be grateful.
I can’t be the only one obsessed with things like Kickstarter and SharkTank, amirite? There is something about people making huge sacrifices for something they believe in, and then seeing other people believe in the dream as well. If I had to pick a favorite though, it would be Kickstarter.
Today, I’d like to challenge you to head over to Kickstarter and see what The Parative Project is doing for women who have been trafficked, exploited and forced into labor. What I love about these t-shirts is that they were designed to speak backwards as the founder, Drew, describes.
The messages on these specific shirts are not for the consumer, nor the people who will see you wearing them (although of course we think you will love them too!). Instead, we designed these shirts to speak to their maker. The woman who is working to end the cycle of poverty for the generations after her. The woman who is diligently fighting the ghosts of her past. The woman who might need some encouragement to know she is remembered. We know that a t-shirt isn’t going to erase everything that has happened to her, but like a greeting card can turn around someone’s day, these tees will serve as comfort and support to her. As she works, she will read the messages, “You are loved” and “our freedom is tied together.” So when the product she made is purchased, she will know that we believe in her freedom and want to help grow her business.
The power of words. It gives me chills. The honor to be involved in something bigger than me.
Harlow has something she wants to tell you!
You better believe we supported this Kickstarter project! I can’t wait to see the final tote bag design: #nevertoomanybags is my life motto. ;) I kid.
But seriously. Kid shirts are now available, and they are SO very close to meeting their goal. Imagine if we all join in what can happen.
Y’all know we are huge fans of Rack Room Shoes over here. I was so excited to finally step foot into a brick and mortar at a mall close by! Ordering online is awesome, but sometimes perusing in person takes the cake.
We’ve decided to homeschool Harlow next year for preschool – cue panic and fear in my eyes and another post for another time – so I’m excited to create little back to school traditions for us as we venture down this path. Will we continue homeschooling? Who knows. I’m taking it one year day at a time.
Harlow is definitely in an “let me do it, mommy” stage, and I love it. I also can’t believe she’s not a baby anymore, so I’m constantly prying my hands open to let her grow and flourish. Man, it’s so hard to loosen that grip! I love that these Sperry shoes are so perfect for her to put on.
She loves asking me, “this way?” to ensure she has her shoes on the correct feet, so we’ve made up a little saying to help her remember: pinky toe, velcro. I love hearing her recite it as she goes to the closet to grab her shoes.
I’m wearing these VANS just about every day — getting a lot of compliments on them too. They are such a great shade of grey and go with just about everything! Rack Room Shoes has shoes for the entire family — and you can’t beat their everyday “buy one get one 50% off” deal.
For this back to school outfit, she’s sporting her bubblegum pink Sperry Hallies and her favorite dress. It’s cute and simple, and both items pass the rigorous “comfy” test that Harlow puts every garment and shoe through.
She’s one tough cookie!
I can’t write about our favorite Shoe place without sharing some of the amazing things they are doing! Rack Room Shoes is raising funds for families in need through their yearly Shoes that Fit campaign. This campaign provides new shoes to at-risk kids at the start of the school year.
I love how easy Rack Room makes it to donate: simply donate when checking out in the store or donate online here. 100% of donations will be distributed locally where the shoes are purchased.
Growing up, one of my favorite things to do was work in my dad’s woodworking shop in our basement. He had a little desk for my sisters and I, where he would keep a bucket of scrap wood. We’d paint and glue whatever we could — he still has a little “SHOP” sign (complete with pretty flowers, of course) that I made hanging up outside of his shop space in the basement.
My love for wood and its beauty is almost genetic when you look at the history of wood-loving people in my family. My grandpa is an amazing carpenter, carver and skilled artist when it comes to wood. In his late 80s, he is still learning and trying new skills when it comes to his artistry. Every time we come home, there is something new that he’s carved and built displayed in his home. Growing up, my dad would build beautiful pieces for our home, including desks for all 3 of us girls. I cannot wait to get mine out of storage and set up for Harlow in her new room!
My dad also made our kids a crib made from cherry wood. He sent two panels to my grandpa to carve, which makes it even more special. You see, this cherry wood isn’t just purchased from a local lumber yard, it is wood from the family farm on my dad’s side. When trees were cut down, they were kept in their storage shed made for the wood — letting it dry and age, so it could be used to create.
I love how timeless wood is — it can be passed down through the generations, usually becoming more beautiful with age.
And speaking of time — see what I did there? ;) — creating a watch with links made of wood is right up there in the list of beautiful pieces of art created with wood.
Enter, Wood Watches by JORD. The minute I saw these watches, I was smitten. When I opened up the box and tried it on? They are more beautiful in person. I wanted to share some outfit ideas with you all today, inspired by my JORD Wood Watch.
// outfit one
I love navy, corals and red together, and I’d happily wear this outfit on repeat this summer. I love hats, but I always feel too self-conscious to wear them. Maybe that will be a new goal for this summer: learn how to wear hats confidently. Ha!
// outfit two
The evenings here in New England still get decently chilly. I mean, not cold, but not hot. There is often a great breeze, and I’m most comfortable with a light weight button up and comfy jeans. This would be the outfit I’d pair with an oversized JORD Wood Watch, for sure.
// outfit three
This look would definitely be my pick for a datenight. Simple. I love how your JORD Wood Watch can completely be the star of the outfit — especially when drawing attention to the same hand with a bright and bold clutch.
Wondering where the name JORD comes from? Jord, pronounced “yord” is swedish for earth, soil or land. JORD’s mission and vision was (and is) to create a sustainable, modern and beautiful timepiece — keeping their designs simple and efficient. Did I mention that JORD Wood Watches are self winding? No need to get a new battery, ever. And they also allow you to measure your write when ordering, so that your watch comes ready and sized for you.
A conversation piece. A masterpiece. A timepiece. JORD Wood Watches are really something else, and I’m honored to have had the opportunity to share them with you today!
Harlow’s at “the cation Bible school” this week, so Jones and I are getting a lot of walks and errands done each morning. It’s amazing how quickly errands can go when you’re only taking one kid in and out of a carseat. Who knew.
I’ll just be real: celebrating anything over 4 hours of sleep in a row is what I rejoice in these days. Exhaustion and mom-guilt get the best of me often when it comes to truly celebrating moments.
I find it easy to celebrate the things you’d maybe expect as a mom:
sleep-filled nights (can you tell I’m tired? ;)
potty training successes
new words
new skills!
new teeth!
But celebrating myself as a woman, wife and mom is something I avoid and shut down quickly. Whether it be a compliment or a milestone, I find reasons I failed in some way, instead.
I coulda…
I shoulda…
I woulda….
I want to be the mom who says thank you to a compliment instead of turning it down. I want my kids to see me rejoicing in small successes, so they learn to do the same.
It’s so easy for me to be too busy or distracted: the mom’s to-do list is never ending.
Celebration often feels like a ton of work. Well, maybe not a ton of work, but another thing on the list, for sure.
But I want to be the mom who celebrates finding petunias because “we can eat these mommy!” I want to be the mom who stops what she’s doing to celebrate the lego tower and the drawings. I want to be the mom who changes dinner to sandwiches, so we can spend more time celebrating a doll’s birthday at Ristorante Delicioso (that’s Harlow’s new restaurant, if you’re wondering).
I want to learn to stop and truly celebrate the tiniest of moments.
Since our move, I find myself longing for familiarity. And in small ways, that is starting to happen: I can even drive home from Trader Joe’s without using my GPS.
But the longing for a friend who’s known me longer than a few months is real. Friendships take time, and when I think about celebrating something, it’s the friends who have known me for years that I long to be with.
I know the days will be long, but the years will be short. Memories will be made and moments will be celebrated.
One thing we’ve celebrated as a family is the purchase of a home here in the Boston area! It’s been bittersweet for me, as sometimes I felt like we were just on a long vacation and heading back to Pittsburgh in due time. But knowing that we will have so many reasons to celebrate — both large and small — in this home together is what causes me to truly rejoice.
We go often to check on its progress and explore. We’ve named the bunny family in the backyard, Harlow’s claimed a bedroom, and I sit and pray for laughter and celebration to fill the now empty spaces.
I want to be a mom who celebrates home wherever home may be.
It’s easy for me to try to skip ahead into a home to settle into, nights filled with sleep and no more diapers. It’s easy for me to say, “I’ll celebrate then.” and “I’ll celebrate when…”
I don’t want to be a skipper, and I don’t want to wait. I want to stop and celebrate, even when my heart is missing family and feeling heavy. I want to stop and celebrate, even when I’m exhausted and sleep is all I want.
I want to be the mom who finds joy in the mundane and celebration in the chaos.
a thorough or dramatic change in one’s appearance, form, etc.
Most of us don’t go through life making drastic transformations overnight–growth is a process whether it is growing tall or wide. Change is often subtle and slow: it goes unnoticed in the day-to-day even though it is constantly at work.
As our lives were turned upside down from packing and purging and moving to a city, I knew transformation would be inevitable: new location, new normals, new routine. Ultimately we are the same people simply living in a new city, but all the newness provided the gift of a fresh start. Andy and I spoke at length about the habits we wanted to develop further and the habits we wanted to leave with our old zip code. We set a precedent from day one regarding how we managed and spent our time together and apart.
Since our move to Boston, I have seen beautiful transformation occur in all of us: a beautiful and thorough change.
Our time spent together is more often and less rushed. Our adventures are more frequent and intentional. Work is present, but not controlling, and priorities have shifted.
Motherhood changed me: it continues to change me. Every day is full of teachable moments and if I’m being honest, I’m usually the one doing the learning.
And while yes, some of the transformation is physical–my arms shake a bit more when I wave and I usually look 6 months pregnant at the end of the day, to name a few–but the transformation I see most drastically is the one within.
My days are spent putting others needs before mine — in the moments I find it most difficult, I am brought face to face with my own selfishness and need for change.
Change is often subtle, yes, but I don’t want to skip ahead. I want to maintain a pace that allows me to ache a bit with the growing pains. I want to be aware of the transformation occurring both in me and in the members of my family. I want to document the milestones, so that drastic change is noticed, yes, but if I had to choose, I want to be present and aware of the day-to-day subtleties even more. I’ll forever be one who loves the gift of a new morning, new month, or new year, but I want to fall in bed each night knowing that I was intentional about being present for the day and whatever challenge of change it brought me.
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